A musher in the Yukon Gold International sled dog race encourages his team along the 1,000-mile race that begins in Whitehorse and continues to the finish line at Fairbanks. The race is known as the toughest in the world, even tougher than the renowned Iditarod. One of the reasons behind the tough reputation is that the race takes place in February, which is generally much colder than March, when the Iditarod is held.

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Rim Country veterinarian Alan Hallman leaves little doubt a guest speaking appearance at the prestigious and exclusive Harvard Travellers Club was both humbling and awe-inspiring.
“To be there, at a podium, speaking under a picture of John F. Kennedy and knowing so many great men, like Theodore Roosevelt and most of the world’s most famous explorers had spoken (there), was unbelievable,” he said. “It was amazing, something you never forget.”
Hallman made his presentation, entitled “The Yukon Quest,” to about 200 members of the 104-year-old club Dec. 13 in the Massachusetts Room of the Harvard Club located in historic downtown Boston.
“I spoke on long distance dog racing, focusing on the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, which I have been a part of since 1994,” said Hallman. “The presentation focused on the historic route the race follows, the special love that exists between the mushers and their dogs and the tremendous terrain and weather conditions that they face on the trail.”